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I’m waiting five more minutes before I have to go back in, but it’s URGENT that I see you.

My body goes cold. I can’t swallow down the huge lump in my throat. Mason obviously wants to end it as soon as possible. He doesn’t want to sit through a whole dinner with this hanging over his head. I owe that much to him, to go meet him and let him say what he needs to say so he can move on.

I swear I want to throw up as I think of what I have to do now. But I can’t be sick until I meet with Mason.

“We’ll talk about this later,” I say to my mum, and then I leave her standing on the edge of the ballroom. I’m shaky as I make my way to the exit. We have the whole reception area outside the ballroom for the gala, and I scan the plush seating arrangements for Mason.

I don’t see him. I walk further into the space, searching for him. There are a few gala attendees lingering over the high two-tops, and Collings Motors team members still man the registration tables.

Then I can feel someone staring at me, and I don’t even have to move to know it’s Mason. I steel myself to turn around, and sure enough, he’s in the corner of the room, next to one of the large arched windows, his hands in his trouser pockets as he leans against the wall. When my eyes meet his, I feel my heart lurch into my stomach.

I make my way over to him, still shaking. When I reach him, I keep enough distance so it just looks like we’re two co-workers having a conversation.

His eyes dart around the room for a second, then land back on my face. “I know I shouldn’t say this here, but I had to.”

I find myself holding my breath, waiting for his words to land like a physical blow to my heart.

“You have never been sexier to me than you are tonight,” he murmurs.

I stare at him, dumbfounded. “What?”

“I mean, you’re hot as hell in this dress, but then hearing what you told your mum about me? Are you trying to make me break all my rules about touching you in public in one go?”

WHAT?

“I … I … what?” I sputter.

“Knowing you not only told your mum about me, but stood up for what you want? Told her how much I matter? Seeing how strong and confident you are? It makes me want you even more.”

Oh my God. I could nearly collapse to the floor in relief.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Catherine?” he asks.

“I thought you were about to tell me you didn’t want to see me anymore,” I confess.

His brows shoot up in surprise. “What? Why?”

I swallow before speaking. “I know my mum told you her thoughts. Then I saw you walking out of the ballroom, then you texted me saying you needed to talk to me right away … I assumed the worst.”

Mason winces. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.”

“No, no, it’s all okay now. I’m so relieved.”

“Your confidence is hot,” he says, his voice a low rumble between us. “And I love that you’re confident about me. About us.”

My heart soars. “I’m sorry for whatever it is my mum said to you.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t be. I understand the backstory. I simply told her I respected her opinion before excusing myself. All I could think about was how you were willing to tell her about us. That I was worth that risk.”

I stare at him, puzzled. How could he think he wasn’t worth any kind of a risk?

Mason clears his throat. “I want to touch you so bad. I’m keeping my hands in my pockets, so I don’t do something stupid,” he whispers.

“We just have to get through dinner,” I remind him. “And we should probably go back into the ballroom now and take our seats.”

Mason gives me a grimace that would make Caleb’s look weak, and I laugh.

“What?” he asks.